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Re: Cut off one's nose to spite one's face

Would you be kind enough to explain to me the proper meaning of the idiom “Cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face”? or (“cut her nose to spite her face”, or “cut off their nose to spite their faces)

I know the following interpretation which stands in many dictionaries: “to create a disadvantage to oneself through one's own spiteful action “.

There is another expression: “Don't cut off your nose to spite your face” - don't do something that ... or makes your life hard just so you can spite someone else or get one up on them.

In my opinion there is something wrong in the expressions in question.

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards

V.

Check this link for the above-mentioned idiom:http://www.answers.com/
It is an informal idiom meaning harming oneself out of pique,meaning that due to the fact that you were angry,you did or said sth to provoke and harm the other person, which consequently harmed you.

Negative sentence has negative connotation.
In my opinion, the sentence is perfectly fine.

Re: Cut off one's nose to spite one's face

Injure oneself out of pique. For example, Staying home because Meg was invited first is cutting off your nose to spite your face. Similar hyperboles appeared in several Latin proverbs; in English the expression was first recorded in 1561.

A warning against spiteful revenge which results in one's own hurt or loss. The metaphorical phrase to cut off one's nose to spite one's face is very frequently found. Cf. medieval L. male ulciscitur dedecus sibi illatum, qui amputat nasum suum, he who cuts off his nose takes poor revenge for a shame inflicted on him; mid 14th-cent. Fr. qui cope son nčs, sa face est despechie, the man who cuts off his nose spites his face.